Resealable spout for selectively accessing coconut water within a coconut

Abstract

A resealable spigot for a coconut that provides easy access by consumers to the sterile coconut water within a coconut includes a valve seat positioned within a coconut aperture and a plunger sleeve positioned within the valve seat. The plunger sleeve has a based positioned membrane that seals the coconut aperture, A plunger-stopper is tethered to the plunger sleeve for shipping and storage and is used by the consumer to pierce the plunger sleeve membrane to gain access to the coconut water. The plunger sleeve is also used to reseal the coconut aperture to preserve any remaining coconut water for future consumption. Further provided is an additional embodiment for a spigot comprising a conduit having a spike-tip on one end and a spout on the other with a through bore therebetween. The coconut having a partially inserted spigot is provided to the consumer whereby the consumer gains access to the sterile coconut water by pushing the partially inserted spigot to its seated position with a grommet provided as an insertion stop for the spigot. An optional air vent is provided to aid in fluid flow from the spigot.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for accessing a coconut, having a seed-case, a layer of coconut meat inside of the seed-case, and an internal cavity containing sterile coconut water, and removing the sterile water within a coconut, comprising:
 accessing the coconut meat through the seed-case in a manner to keep the coconut water sterile until the water is accessed, by positioning a valve plug having a valve plug bore within a tooled coconut aperture; and 
 accessing the coconut water through the coconut meat at a later time, by inserting into the valve plug bore a plunger-stopper that is used to provide access to the coconut water, for removing the coconut water for consumption, 
 wherein said plunger-stopper is tethered to said valve plug during shipping and storage. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plunger-stopper has a plunger-stopper lance and plunger-stopper tip. 
     
     
       3. A method for providing a coconut, having a seed-case, a layer of coconut meat inside of the seed-case, and an internal cavity containing sterile coconut water, in a condition that is ready for a consumer to access and remove the sterile water within the coconut, the method comprising:
 forming an aperture that extends through the seed-case but does not extend through the layer of coconut meat, thereby maintaining the sterility of the coconut water; 
 affixing to the coconut, so as to surround the aperture, a grommet member that has a central passageway generally aligned with the aperture, the grommet member structure engaging with the coconut aperture periphery so as to cooperate with the coconut in a manner to preserve the sterility of the coconut water; and 
 coupling, with the coconut, a plunger member that is used to provide access to the coconut water through the grommet member central passageway. 
 
     
     
       4. A consumer-ready coconut product, based on a coconut having a seed-case, a layer of coconut meat inside of the seed-case, and an internal cavity containing sterile coconut water, the product being in a condition that is ready for a consumer to access and remove the sterile water within the coconut, the product comprising:
 the coconut having a formed aperture that extends through the seed-case but does not extend through the layer of coconut meat, thereby maintaining the sterility of the coconut water; a grommet member affixed to the coconut, so as to surround the aperture, the grommet member having a central passageway generally aligned with the aperture, the grommet member not extending through the layer of coconut meat, thereby maintaining the sterility of the coconut water; and 
 a plunger member that is coupled with the coconut. 
 
     
     
       5. The product of  claim 4  wherein the plunger member includes: a plunger member advancing structure located at a first end of the plunger member; and an elongated lance member, coupled to the plunger member, the lance member configured to slide within the grommet member and has a length that is sufficient to penetrate through the layer of coconut meat and into the internal cavity containing the sterile water, when it is inserted through the aperture and the plunger member is advanced in the direction of the grommet member, wherein the apertured coconut with coupled plunger member is sufficiently sealed to protect the coconut water within the coconut from contamination during shipping and storage. 
     
     
       6. The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the plunger member comprises a collar located at a first end of the plunger member; and an elongated lance member that is configured to slide within the grommet member and has a length that is sufficient to penetrate through the layer of coconut meat and into the internal cavity containing the sterile water, when inserted through the aperture. 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the step of coupling the plunger member comprises inserting the plunger member through the collar member by an amount so that the end of the plunger member only partially penetrates the meat of the coconut. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the step of coupling the plunger member comprises providing the plunger member tethered in such a way as to be connected to the grommet member. 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the grommet member comprises a valve plug collar and spaced apart valve plug flange connected by an external wall extending therebetween. 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 9 , where said valve plug collar when positioned within the coconut aperture substantially engages the coconut aperture exterior periphery. 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said coconut is huskless. 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 10 , where said valve plug flange engages the coconut aperture interior periphery thereby preventing lateral movement of said valve seat within said coconut aperture.